42-31823
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 25/12/43; Tulsa 9/1/44; Maxwell 14/1/44; Lakeland 16/1/44; Morrison 14/2/44; Assigned 772BS/463BG Celone 15/2/44; Transferred 341BS/97BG Amendola 3/44
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42-38143
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/12/43; Savannah 17/1/44; Assigned 775BS/463BG Celone 9/3/44; loaned to 49BS/2BG Amendola, Missing in Action 19/3/44 with 97BG on familiarization mission with Keith Chambers, Co-pilot: Melvin Wagner, Navigator: Harry Wolquitt [463BG], Bombardier: Fred Lawson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Babek, Radio Operator: Adam Sokolowski, Ball turret gunner: Albt Gricius, Waist gunner: Francis Delap, Waist gunner: Bob Bredesen, Tail gunner: Rich Goldsmith (10 Killed in Action); mid-air coll with #42-31823 (463BG); ditched Adriatic Sea. MACR 3286.
Service
Aircraft
Units
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2nd Bomb Group
Group
Served on antisubmarine duty for several months after the U.S. entered World War II. In October 1942 was re-designated as 2d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and earmarked for combat. The group was transferred on paper to Geiger Field, Washington, where it... -
463rd Bomb Group
Group
The 463rd BG entered combat on March 30, 1944. The target was the airdrome at Imoski, Yugoslavia. Thirty-nine planes dropped 117 tons of bombs from 20,000 feet. Although slight flak was encountered, all planes returned safely. The group flew a... -
49th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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775th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Established in mid-1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to Second Air Force for training. Attached in late 1943 and early 1944 to Air University Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics. Deployed to Mediterranean Theater...
People
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James Babek
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer | 2nd Bomb Group
From Texas -
Robert Bredesen
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Keith Chambers
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 in B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 - ditched in Adriatic Sea, Killed in Action (KIA). -
Francis Delap
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Richard Goldsmith
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Albert Gricius
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Frederick Lawson
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Adam Sokolowski
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator / Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Melvin Wagner
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Harold Wolquitt
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 2nd Bomb Group
On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Places
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Amendola
Military site : airfield
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Celone
Military site : airfield
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United Airlines Modification Center
Other location
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured | Seattle, WA, USA | 1943 |
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Built at Boeing. |
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| Delivered | 722, 6207 Missile Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82005, USA | 26 December 1943 |
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Delivered Cheyenne AAF 26-Dec-43. |
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| Assigned | 71040 Amendola FG, Italy | March 1944 |
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Loaned to 49BS, 2BG Amendola Mar-44. |
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| Assigned | Via S. Severo, km. 4, 71121 Foggia FG, Italy | 9 March 1944 |
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Assigned 775BS/463BG Celone 9/3/44. |
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| Crashed | Gulf of Manfredonia, Italy | 19 March 1944 |
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Missing in Action 19-Mar-44 on familiarisation mission mid air collision with 42-38123 (2BG); crashed Adriatic Sea; MACR 3286. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 19 May 2022 10:07:21 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 April 2021 18:18:51 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Corrected a typo in the A/C "Description" - "familiarization " was misspelled. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 August 2020 02:36:32 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 August 2020 02:26:26 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2017 09:55:49 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, description, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:49 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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